No data centers in my backyard

Data center development has become one of the most bipartisan flashpoints in American politics, with polls showing roughly 70% of both Democrats and Republicans opposed. A 10-day reporting trip across Wisconsin and Michigan found local opposition driven by a mix of concerns: energy costs, land use, water quality, and attachment to place, rather than abstract fears about AI. In Janesville, Wisconsin, a proposed data center on a contaminated 250-acre former GM site drew fierce community resistance despite the developer offering $30 million in cleanup costs and $4.8 million in annual tax revenue. Activists successfully blocked the deal and secured a ballot referendum requiring voter approval for future developments exceeding $450 million. The backlash reflects a broader tension between the physical infrastructure demands of AI scaling and the communities expected to host it.